P & O Ship Visit - Exclusive Offer?

[holidaydebbie]

Hi all

I am seriously considering booking a summer 2019 cruise on Ventura to the Canaries. I also have a ship visit booked for next month on Britannia. In the ship visit information it says, "we’ll have an exclusive offer to make your booking even better value". Does anyone know what the offer made on ship visits is?

My obvious dilemma is; should I book now based on the price I have been given by my TA, or shall I wait to see what the exclusive offer from P & O is on ship visit day?

[Selbourne]

They do give you a leaflet on the visit which I haven’t really studied but I think is something like additional on board credit. That said, I’ve never seen anyone taking bookings. What they don’t publicise is that you can have the cost of the visit credited to your next booking (gets you the visit, with lunch, for nothing). We book direct with P&O but I suspect that a TA can access that as well. Ship visits are very enjoyable days out.

 

As for when is best to book, it’s a difficult one to answer. The best prices for summer 2019, as with all Cruises, are at launch. I appreciate that you can’t put the clock back, but it does seem that this is not a good time to book for 2019 at present, cost wise. We have a Cruise booking for Apr/May next year and the current Select price for a balcony cabin is two and a half times the price we paid (at launch). Unless you are after a specific cabin, I’d be inclined to hold off and see what September brings. With a lot of focus being on Iona (albeit for 2020), there might be some better prices for the other ships. It’s pot luck though. Nobody knows.

[holidaydebbie]

Thanks for the advice Selbourne, I will bear it in mind. The only reason I don't usually book direct is because the prices always seem a lot higher than a TA will give you via phone. Do the cruise companies give you a better price if you phone them than as advertised on their website?

[jeanlyon]

Hi, I always use a TA, particularly when the new cruises are launched. I get all the P&O discounts plus a discount over and aboe that from the TA. Always a better price on launch.

[Selbourne]

Thanks for the advice Selbourne, I will bear it in mind. The only reason I don't usually book direct is because the prices always seem a lot higher than a TA will give you via phone. Do the cruise companies give you a better price if you phone them than as advertised on their website?

 

I get a discount with P&O that matches the best TA discount I have ever heard mentioned on here, so prefer to cut out the middle man, but as that isn’t available to everyone you are probably best to use a TA.

 

We aren’t allowed to mention discounts on here but, as far as I can tell, they all seem to offer pretty much the same discount, so if you have a relationship with one then I’m sure you will be fine.

[majortom10]

I have done nearly 30 cruises with P&O and every cruise I have always shopped around for the best deal with P&O direct or various TAs and have never had a better price from P&O than any cruise TA.

[Selbourne]

I have done nearly 30 cruises with P&O and every cruise I have always shopped around for the best deal with P&O direct or various TAs and have never had a better price from P&O than any cruise TA.

 

I didn’t say that I get a better deal. Although we aren’t allowed to discuss discounts or agents, when people do they tend to quote a fairly common percentage and I get that direct (on top of quoted offers etc) but, as I have said, not everyone can get that.

 

Most people use a TA for the discount and the relationship they have with them. Some are able to secure cabins on release days an hour or so prior to P&O general release. I have suggested that the OP uses their travel agent.

 

It’s not a competition. Let’s just accept that some may have different experiences to others. There’s no ‘right or wrong’. We each do what works for us.

 

We are happy to use P&O direct as we have a relationship with a former Personal Cruise Specialist who still does our bookings. In addition to the discount (which, I stress, is on top of publicised offers), we often get some additional OBC, have had a lot of ship visits refunded by way of additional OBC, have changed bookings and had the £100 fee waived and when we thought we were going to have to cancel a cruise were told not to worry about the 12 month stipulation as she could ‘work around that’. We pay the balance at the P&O due date, which is usually a good few weeks after TA dates, which has helped us with budgeting and saved drawing down funds on more than one ocassion. Finally, when we have made a pre registration booking, our contact at P&O secures our first choice cabin as soon as they go on general sale and calls me to confirm before I have even received the notification.

 

Now I am fully aware that, balance payment dates aside, many people will receive all of that, and possibly more, from a TA that they are happy to use and that’s great. Good luck to them. I just wish that every time I mention that I book direct with P&O, certain people didn’t feel the need to rush to imply that I am daft for doing so!

[AndyMichelle]

I didn’t say that I get a better deal. Although we aren’t allowed to discuss discounts or agents, when people do they tend to quote a fairly common percentage and I get that direct (on top of quoted offers etc) but, as I have said, not everyone can get that.

 

Most people use a TA for the discount and the relationship they have with them. Some are able to secure cabins on release days an hour or so prior to P&O general release. I have suggested that the OP uses their travel agent.

 

It’s not a competition. Let’s just accept that some may have different experiences to others. There’s no ‘right or wrong’. We each do what works for us.

 

We are happy to use P&O direct as we have a relationship with a former Personal Cruise Specialist who still does our bookings. In addition to the discount (which, I stress, is on top of publicised offers), we often get some additional OBC, have had a lot of ship visits refunded by way of additional OBC, have changed bookings and had the £100 fee waived and when we thought we were going to have to cancel a cruise were told not to worry about the 12 month stipulation as she could ‘work around that’. We pay the balance at the P&O due date, which is usually a good few weeks after TA dates, which has helped us with budgeting and saved drawing down funds on more than one ocassion. Finally, when we have made a pre registration booking, our contact at P&O secures our first choice cabin as soon as they go on general sale and calls me to confirm before I have even received the notification.

 

Now I am fully aware that, balance payment dates aside, many people will receive all of that, and possibly more, from a TA that they are happy to use and that’s great. Good luck to them. I just wish that every time I mention that I book direct with P&O, certain people didn’t feel the need to rush to imply that I am daft for doing so!

I am with you on this, we also book direct.

We do this after 2 bad experiences with travel agents.

Each time P&O pulled out all the stops to help us, so we now go straight to the organ grinder.

I am sure there are plenty of fantastic TAs out there, but our experience with 2 major players was terrible.

[pete14]

I didn’t say that I get a better deal. Although we aren’t allowed to discuss discounts or agents, when people do they tend to quote a fairly common percentage and I get that direct (on top of quoted offers etc) but, as I have said, not everyone can get that.

 

Most people use a TA for the discount and the relationship they have with them. Some are able to secure cabins on release days an hour or so prior to P&O general release. I have suggested that the OP uses their travel agent.

 

It’s not a competition. Let’s just accept that some may have different experiences to others. There’s no ‘right or wrong’. We each do what works for us.

 

We are happy to use P&O direct as we have a relationship with a former Personal Cruise Specialist who still does our bookings. In addition to the discount (which, I stress, is on top of publicised offers), we often get some additional OBC, have had a lot of ship visits refunded by way of additional OBC, have changed bookings and had the £100 fee waived and when we thought we were going to have to cancel a cruise were told not to worry about the 12 month stipulation as she could ‘work around that’. We pay the balance at the P&O due date, which is usually a good few weeks after TA dates, which has helped us with budgeting and saved drawing down funds on more than one ocassion. Finally, when we have made a pre registration booking, our contact at P&O secures our first choice cabin as soon as they go on general sale and calls me to confirm before I have even received the notification.

 

Now I am fully aware that, balance payment dates aside, many people will receive all of that, and possibly more, from a TA that they are happy to use and that’s great. Good luck to them. I just wish that every time I mention that I book direct with P&O, certain people didn’t feel the need to rush to imply that I am daft for doing so!

 

Thanks for that Selbourne. I know just how you feel. I always exercise my choice to book direct and have no intention of changing.

[majortom10]

I didn’t say that I get a better deal. Although we aren’t allowed to discuss discounts or agents, when people do they tend to quote a fairly common percentage and I get that direct (on top of quoted offers etc) but, as I have said, not everyone can get that.

 

Most people use a TA for the discount and the relationship they have with them. Some are able to secure cabins on release days an hour or so prior to P&O general release. I have suggested that the OP uses their travel agent.

 

It’s not a competition. Let’s just accept that some may have different experiences to others. There’s no ‘right or wrong’. We each do what works for us.

 

We are happy to use P&O direct as we have a relationship with a former Personal Cruise Specialist who still does our bookings. In addition to the discount (which, I stress, is on top of publicised offers), we often get some additional OBC, have had a lot of ship visits refunded by way of additional OBC, have changed bookings and had the £100 fee waived and when we thought we were going to have to cancel a cruise were told not to worry about the 12 month stipulation as she could ‘work around that’. We pay the balance at the P&O due date, which is usually a good few weeks after TA dates, which has helped us with budgeting and saved drawing down funds on more than one ocassion. Finally, when we have made a pre registration booking, our contact at P&O secures our first choice cabin as soon as they go on general sale and calls me to confirm before I have even received the notification.

 

Now I am fully aware that, balance payment dates aside, many people will receive all of that, and possibly more, from a TA that they are happy to use and that’s great. Good luck to them. I just wish that every time I mention that I book direct with P&O, certain people didn’t feel the need to rush to imply that I am daft for doing so!

 

OK then lets put it another way having done nearly 30 cruises in 21 yrs have never had a deal given by P&O direct that has ever matched cruise TAs. They have always given the same discount as P&O and then an extra % amount which varies from TA to TA on top making them always cheaper than P&O. Then on top some have given extra OBC or on occasions a bottle of wine as a gift on the ship or a box of 6 bottles of wine as an incentive to book.

[SquishTheWhale]

Hi, hope this helps from our ship visit on Azura last July:

 

 

We were told that the offer only applies to the ship you actually visited. I'm not sure if that's true or just depends on who you ask. Despite the 'book today' offer we were not asked if we were interested in doing this or not. We weren't really there to book right away, but if you are then make sure you ask about doing it!

 

I found out from here (probably from Selbourne!) about the on board credit for the value of the ship visit. We were able to apply this almost 1yr later to a cruise we had already booked on Britannia. We have booked via a TA but contacted P&O to ask for it. I don't know if the offers on the leaflet apply to booking via a TA- it does say 'contact your travel agent' on the leaflet though.

[Selbourne]

OK then lets put it another way having done nearly 30 cruises in 21 yrs have never had a deal given by P&O direct that has ever matched cruise TAs. They have always given the same discount as P&O and then an extra % amount which varies from TA to TA on top making them always cheaper than P&O. Then on top some have given extra OBC or on occasions a bottle of wine as a gift on the ship or a box of 6 bottles of wine as an incentive to book.

 

Yet again, you seem to have a burning desire to try to prove someone 'wrong'. I fail to understand this. I repeat, I do NOT pay advertised P&O prices. I am able to get a discount over and above this which, from my experience of checking with the big cruise specialist TA's, matches the discounts that they offer. You prefer to book with a TA, as do the majority of other people. I fully respect that. I, on the other hand, prefer to book direct with P&O and there are several reasons why I prefer to do this.

 

If P&O stops honouring the discount or a TA comes along and offers a significantly better discount then I shall happily switch. Until that time, please just accept that we all find our own way that we are happy with and there is no 'right or wrong' answer. As for anyone who is unable to get an additional discount from P&O, it is clearly financially advantageous to use a TA, as I suggested to the OP.

[Selbourne]

Hi, hope this helps from our ship visit on Azura last July:

 

 

We were told that the offer only applies to the ship you actually visited. I'm not sure if that's true or just depends on who you ask. Despite the 'book today' offer we were not asked if we were interested in doing this or not. We weren't really there to book right away, but if you are then make sure you ask about doing it!

 

I found out from here (probably from Selbourne!) about the on board credit for the value of the ship visit. We were able to apply this almost 1yr later to a cruise we had already booked on Britannia. We have booked via a TA but contacted P&O to ask for it. I don't know if the offers on the leaflet apply to booking via a TA- it does say 'contact your travel agent' on the leaflet though.

 

Really pleased to hear that you got the cost of the ship visit credited to your next booking. I have never seen this promoted, hence why I've flagged it on here a few times, but we have done visits to most ships and have always had the full cost refunded to our next cruise booking. They do not have to be used for a booking on the ship that you visited. The cost of the visit sits against your name on the P&O system as an offer code. I can't recall the code, but when booking I mention it and they dig around and find it! Like you, we've never been asked about booking whilst on a ship visit, nor have we seen anyone taking bookings, but I notice on the flyer that you posted that the extra OBC offers apply for up to 3 months after the visit. This is particularly useful if you visit at a time when prices are quite high, which seems to be the case at present.

[Adammara]

As P&O and Cunard are 'sister' companies, hopefully the same rules apply. In early 2016 we booked a cruise on QE for that November. In the August we managed to get a ships visit to see her, and we received OBC for a future booking. After a wonderful cruise that autumn we decided to book another cruise. OK it was the cheapest suite, but we got the visit OBC, passed cruise OBC and OBC for the actual cruise, so 3 lots of OBC totalling $1680, and our online TA included free drinks under $12, we will never see another deal like that again! Great cruise too!

[kruzseeka]

You used to be able to pay a Future Cruise Deposit (£50 p.p.) on these visits or during a cruise which would be redeemable against cruises you booked within the next year and this deal carried with it some obc rather like that advertised on the Flier. But that has gone - now I believe you have to book on the day (or within a day or two as indicated by the call-back facility). This would probably suit the OP since she has a specific cruise in mind. We used to store such an offer up until we were ready to book but that is no longer an option to take advantage of the obc.

As for booking now or at the time of the visit I suppose the question is' 'Do you think the price will go down by less than £100 p.p. between now and your visit?' (Guessing the cruise will be 8-14 days.) I'd be tempted to wait but it is a gamble!

[Onelung]

Can this offer be applied to a cruise already booked with a TA?

 

I have Britannia booked for next July so this would be most useful.:)

[kruzseeka]

Any booking can be directed through a TA of your choice. However I'm sure it applies only to a new booking.

[holidaydebbie]

Hi all,

Just wanted to say thank you for your replies and shared wisdom. I think we got slightly off topic, however that is not a complaint as it enabled a not so seasoned cruiser such as myself to gain extra tips. It has certainly given me some food for thought for future cruise bookings!

 

As it happens, and for those that are interested , I waited a couple more weeks before booking, you could say that I bottled it as it seemed that balconies were disappearing fast and I needed a 3 berth cabin of which there is a more limited supply. In the end I paid far more than I wanted to, but had I waited until the ship visit, it might only have been worth a bit of onboard credit but I hadn’t realised that I could have got a price from P & O direct that might have been comparable to my TA. I am happy I get to look forward to another cruise next year and so is my OH but I’m planning on starting another thread asking about tips to get the cost down!

 

Thanks again for sharing your experiences and views!

[Tikka234]

I get a discount with P&O that matches the best TA discount I have ever heard mentioned on here, so prefer to cut out the middle man, but as that isn’t available to everyone you are probably best to use a TA.

 

We aren’t allowed to mention discounts on here but, as far as I can tell, they all seem to offer pretty much the same discount, so if you have a relationship with one then I’m sure you will be fine.

Both the TA in my town would not budge from PO online price so my brother (who's coming with us) went into his local TA got 5% off plus an extra £500 off.

My last 2 cruises I have booked direct with PO as only got same price.

[majortom10]

I would never book a cruise with a national high street chain TA. Their knowledge of cruising is very questionable and most dont understand the complexities that booking a cruise is far different than booking a hotel. Always use well established and easily found (via Google) specialist cruise TAs and have never in nearly 40 cruises always had an offer that has beaten the price given by booking direct with cruise lines whether it be P&O, Cunard or Princess.

[Ranchi]

Selbourne said ‘Ship visits are very enjoyable days out.‘ Up to a point!

I paid my first visit to a ship (Canberra) in 1985. It was arranged by my father in law who was a retired officer. We had a wonderful time and were fed and watered and had the run of the ship. This is where I take issue with Selbourne; we disembarked and watched the ship sail...that really is a difficult thing to do.

We decided as we watched the ship slip down Southampton water that we would have to be on her the next time we saw her....and we were.

I’m glad to say we have managed to fit in at least one cruise per year in almost all of the intervening years.

[Balaena]

.

 

If P&O stops honouring the discount or a TA comes along and offers a significantly better discount then I shall happily switch. Until that time, please just accept that we all find our own way that we are happy with and there is no 'right or wrong' answer. As for anyone who is unable to get an additional discount from P&O, it is clearly financially advantageous to use a TA, as I suggested to the OP.

 

Hello Selbourne, really interested in your comment that you get additional discount by booking direct. We have exceeded 100 cruises with P&O over the years and always book direct however, the only additional discount I receive from my PCS is being a Peninsular member, a past cruiser, maybe doing a back to back or, if there is a general deal available to all. Am I missing something, please tell.

Bal

[SquishTheWhale]

Selbourne said ‘Ship visits are very enjoyable days out.‘ Up to a point!

I paid my first visit to a ship (Canberra) in 1985. It was arranged by my father in law who was a retired officer. We had a wonderful time and were fed and watered and had the run of the ship. This is where I take issue with Selbourne; we disembarked and watched the ship sail...that really is a difficult thing to do.

We decided as we watched the ship slip down Southampton water that we would have to be on her the next time we saw her....and we were.

I’m glad to say we have managed to fit in at least one cruise per year in almost all of the intervening years.

Oh I agree- it feels very sad to be getting off when everyone else around you is in holiday mode! We considered hiding somewhere but thought that might go down badly...

 

Sent from my SM-G930F using Forums mobile app

[izzywalker]

Really pleased to hear that you got the cost of the ship visit credited to your next booking. I have never seen this promoted, hence why I've flagged it on here a few times, but we have done visits to most ships and have always had the full cost refunded to our next cruise booking. They do not have to be used for a booking on the ship that you visited. The cost of the visit sits against your name on the P&O system as an offer code. I can't recall the code, but when booking I mention it and they dig around and find it! Like you, we've never been asked about booking whilst on a ship visit, nor have we seen anyone taking bookings, but I notice on the flyer that you posted that the extra OBC offers apply for up to 3 months after the visit. This is particularly useful if you visit at a time when prices are quite high, which seems to be the case at present.

Thank you very informative.